You know that feeling when you realize at the last second that you've almost hit the car in front of you? Well, in 2024 you might not experience it anymore. Driver assistance has become so smart that your car could start braking before you even realize the danger. Kind of like having a paranoid friend behind the wheel, but in a good way. What's cooking? Here are 5 technologies that will change our transport safety.
1 - V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything), the car has eyes everywhere
Imagine driving in a city where every traffic light, every street sign and even the street lamp on the corner are your allies. No, I'm not crazy. This is what is happening thanks to technology V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything). Your car will happily communicate with everything around it, like a teenager with a smartphone glued to his ear.
“Hey, traffic light! How long are you going to stay red?” “Oh, just 10 more seconds, dear vehicle.” And so, instead of skidding at the start as if you were at Le Mans, your car gently suggests you to relax and enjoy those precious seconds of peace. If you want to know more, find it here a nice article di Pierluigi Sandoninni.
2 – ADAS: the co-pilot who will never ask you to stop to pee
In terms of driving assistance, the ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) of 2024 is basically a ninja co-pilot. Sensors, cameras, radar: your car has more “senses” than Spider-Man. And it reacts faster than ever.
Are you driving peacefully when, suddenly, a cat appears out of nowhere? Before you can even think about a reaction, your car has already slowed down, swerved and probably sent an apology to the cat on WhatsApp (on your behalf).
3 – Predictive analysis: if the car becomes a crystal ball on wheels
What if I told you that your car could predict the future? No, it won't win the lottery for you (sorry), but thanks topredictive analysis will be able to anticipate traffic jams and accidents before they happen. It's like having a hi-tech Cassandra on board, only this time everyone listens to it.
"Attention! In 3 km there is a 78% chance of finding a traffic jam caused by a truck carrying 5000 rubber ducks.” And you who thought that the weather forecast was specific (spoiler: they will be more and more).
4 – Autonomous vehicles: if autopilot has an existential crisis
Ah, i autonomous vehicles. The dream of every tired commuter and every teenager without a driving license. In the coming years these wonder-vehicles will become more and more common. But don't expect to be able to sleep blissfully while your car takes you to your destination.
These vehicles have become so intelligent that you might find yourself in a philosophical discussion about free will with your car. “But if I choose the route, are you really the one driving?” Prepare to question everything you thought you knew about driving… and existence in general.
5 – Traffic management: when the city becomes a huge Tetris
Imagine a giant artificial brain looking down on your city and deciding to move cars around like puzzle pieces. “Hmmm, let's move these 50 SUVs to the right, let's pass those scooters to the left, and voilà! Traffic solved”.
With the future intelligent traffic management systems it will be as if the city itself is playing Sim City, worrying on its own about lost tourists blocking traffic while trying to take the perfect selfie with the local landmark.
Bottom line: the future is here, and it's… well, a little weird
So, here we are, in 2024, where our cars are smarter than some of our exes, the traffic lights have become chatty and the city challenges our daily commute like in Wargames.
Driving assistance is no longer just a luxury, it has become a necessity in a world where machines are starting to understand traffic better than us humans. And maybe, just maybe, that's a good thing. Because let's face it, with all the distractions we have, maybe it's better to leave some responsibility to our four-wheeled friends too.
And if your car starts singing Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" while masterfully avoiding a traffic jam, well, join the chorus. The alternative is to open the door and run. Not very cute.
